Soviet Casualties During the Korean War (1950-1953)

From the US plan to divide Korea at the 38th in 1945, until the outbreak of the Korean War in June, 1950, there were at least 2000 border incidences involving the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) military forces, and those of the Communist Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Most of these incursions were carried-out by highly aggressive ROK troops that had been specially trained and indoctrinated against Communism by US Advisor’s. These ROK troops would ‘invade’ North Korea and carry-out the routine murder of North Korean citizens and the destruction of important DPRK buildings, and other assets. In June, 1950, all this changed as the DPRK leader – Kim Il Sung -launched a well-planned counter-offensive across the 38th Parallel into US controlled South Korea (this action was carried-out with the knowledge and permission of Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong – although Mao advised waiting). This was initially planned a a ‘limited’ military operation with punitive objectives, but as the ROK forces literally fell apart and exhibited cowardly behaviour, the DPRK forces simply kept on advancing – nearly succeeding in pushing the US out of Korea altogether. However, the DPRK soon became the victims of its own success, and with logistics being overly extended, the US struck-back with the Inchon Landings in September, 1950 (a move that out-flanked the Communist forces). As the DPRK forces had to retreat, the US and ROK troops advanced. In the meantime, the US attempted to justify their imperialist and aggressive actions in Korea by manipulating the United Nations (UN) into backing the war, and supporting US neo-colonialists policy in the area.

As a consequence, the US drew-in numerous countries into the Korean, whilst the bulk of the fighting was done using the best troops the US had to offer (keeping the unreliable ROK troops in reserve). However, as the US troops neared the boundary between North Korea and China, the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army entered North Korea as an act of self-defence. This Chinese Communist army inflicted a number of devastating defeats on the US (and allied) army (generally referred as ‘UN forces’), and successfully ‘liberated’ North Korea from capitalist control. The Korean War eventually ended in a stalemate situation, and an Armistice was signed in 1953. Although the Soviet Union did not get ‘officially’ involved in the Korean War (issuing a declaration to this effect in 1950, soon after hostilities had commenced), nevertheless, Joseph Stalin ordered that Red Army Anti-Aircraft Artillery Units be deployed in North Korea (together with their troop support), together with the best ‘aces’ of the Soviet Red Airforce, flying Migs with North Korean insignia. This action was needed as the DPRK and Chinese armies lacked substantial airforces and were vulnerable to attack from the air. According to declassified Soviet Records, throughout the Soviet Union deployed 12 divisions of the Soviet Red Airforce – numbering an over-all figure of 72,000 combat (and supporting) personnel throughout the entire three years of the war – peaking with 26,000 operating in 1952. During that time, Soviet pilots shot-down 1097 enemy planes, and the Soviet Anti-Aircraft Artillery shot-down 212 enemy planes. The Soviet Airforce lost 335 planes and 120 pilots. Over-all, the full Soviet casualties are listed as 282 people.